Stone cutting apparatus



June 1, 1954 A, VAN LOON 2,679,840

STONE CUTTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l42 T 35 L i .5 2" .1 J i 'I 40 J 47 35 46 o 53 27 5/ 2e 54- 6 70 2/ 2552 FIG-.2

June 1, 1954 H. A. VAN LOON STONE CUTTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept.12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 #5255274. l mvAoo/v,

' IN VEN TOR.

June 1, 1954 VAN LOON 2,679,840

STONE CUTTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jpw fi 9 I PESERI O/R H I I E 45 A f 1 j i if 1 I I 46 fire. 6

BYZ;

Patented June 1, 1954 STONE CUTTING APPARATUS Herbert A. Van Loon,Bishop, Calif.

Original application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,136. Divided andthis application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,631

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting either natural orartificial stone. The application may be considered as a divisionalapplication of my application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No.115,136, filed September 12, 1949, and now abandoned.

One object of th invention is to provide an apparatus for cutting stonewherein there is a stationary lower blade and a movable upper bladewhich is forced downwardly toward the stationary lower blade to cut orfracture a stone positioned therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stone-cutting apparatushaving the above mentioned characteristics and wherein there is adescendable receiving table adjacent the lower blade on which the stoneto be cut may be positioned and shifted to proper position with relationto the blades so that the cut may be caused to take place at the properor desired location. The descendable table assumes a normal positionslightly above the top of the lower blade and as the upper bladedescends. it causes-the stone positioned on the table to depress thetable and thus automaticall lower the stone along with the table toengage the lower blade. Prior to the cutting operation as the topsurface of the table is disposed above the top edge of the lower bladeshifting of the stone is facilitated over the top of the lower blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stone-cutting apparatuswherein the upper blade is hydraulically forced downwardly toward thelower blade and upon fracturing the stone the upper blade will be causedto automatically return to its uppermost position and remain thereinuntil a conscious manual operation takes place to cause a subsequentlowering of the upper blade. With this type of an arrangement stones ofvarying thicknesses may be cut or fractured without requiringadjustments to be made for different thicknesses.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodimont of the invention, wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the apparatus embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in vertical section on an enlarged scale takensubstantially on the line 3--3 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in perspective, parts being broken away andshown in section, illustrating details of construction of thedescendable table;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic apparatus mployed toeffect a raising and lowering of the upper blade; and

Fig. 6 is a partial view in section taken substantially on the line 6-6upon Fig. l in the direction indicated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved apparatuscomprises a suitable frame shown as consisting of lower I-beams 10supported on a suitable foundation I I. These I-beams in turn supportlongitudinal beams I2 and 13.

Th lower blade is indicated at M (see Fig. 3) and is stationarilymounted on the longitudinal beams I 2 and is such as by a blade-holderl5. This blade-holder preferably has a detachable retaining plate 16bolted thereto as by bolts I! so that the blade I l can be removed andrep-laced whenever occasion requires.

The blade-holder i5 is preferably supported or strengthened at itscenter against deflection such as by a strut made up of members it andit (see Fig. 2) which, in turn, are supported by tension bars 20. Thesetension bars extend through the longitudinal beams l2 and I3 and throughflanges of pairs of angle irons secured thereto. One such pair of angleirons is indicated at 21 and 22 on Fig. 1. The ends of the tension barsare preferably equipped with adapters and with nuts 23 enabling thetension of the tension bars to be adjusted so as to support the centerof the bladeholder 15 against deflection.

At each side of the frame there are pairs of spaced guide members, theguide members of one pair being indicated at 24 and 25 (see Fig. 3) andthe guide members of the opposite pair being indicated at 26 and 2'!(see Fig. 1). An upper or movable blade-holder 28 has its ends fittingbetween th guides 24 and 25 and 26 and 21 so as to be vertically guidedthereby. This bladeholder is preferably equipped with a retaining plate29 but is detachably secured in position such as by bolts 3i! to clampthe movable blade 31 thereon and enable its removal and replacement whenoccasion requires.

The movable blade-holder is vertically reciprocated by means of a pistonrod 32, the lower end of which may be secured to the blade-holder 28.Braces 33 may also be bolted to te blade-holder 28 and to a collar 3t onthe piston rod.

As a means for reciprocating the piston rod 32 a hydraulic cylinder ismounted on top of the frame such as by a base structure generallyindicated at 35. This cylinder has a piston 31 disposed therein to whichthe piston rod 32 is secured. A pump and liquid reservoir 38 deliversliquid under pressure through a conduit 39 to a valve cylinder 40 withinwhich is reciprocable a valve 4|. Conduits 42 and 43 connect the valvecylinder 43 to the top and bottom of the hydraulic cylinder 35,respectively. Return conduits 44 and 45 connect the valve cylinder 49with the pump and reservoir 38.

In the position shown in Fig. 5, no fluid is permitted to flow from thepump and reservoir 38 to or from the hydraulic cylinder 35 and in thisposition the piston 31 is hydraulically locked in the position that itassumes. If the valve 4| is shifted upwardly from the position shown inFig. 5, fluid under pressure may flow from the conduit 33 through theconduit 42 to the top of the hydraulic cylinder 35. Fluid in the bottomof the cylinder 35 may return through conduits 43 and 45. Consequentlyif the valve is displaced upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5,the piston 31 and consequently the upper blade 3| will descend.

Conversely, if the valve 4| is displaced downwardly from the positionshown, hydraulic fluid may flow through the conduit 39 and conduit 43 tothe bottom of the cylinder 35 and fluid above the piston 31 may returnthrough conduits 42 and 44. In this position of the valve 4| the pistonand consequently the upper blades will be moved upwardly.

The valve 4| has a stem 46 projecting from the valve cylinder 40. Thisstem is surrounded by a compression spring 41 which urges the stem andvalve 4| downwardly or into a position wherein the piston 3'! will beforced upwardly.

As a means for manually displacing the valve 4| from the position shownthere is a lever 48 pivoted at 4'9 on a bracket 50 on the frame. Thislever is, in turn, actuated by a manual lever 5| pivoted on a suitablesupport indicated at 52.

The end of the lever 48 is engageable with the end of the stem 46. Thestem 46 is also engageable by a stop 53 that is adjustably mounted on anarm 54 carried by the upper blade-holder.

When it is desired to cause the upper blade to engage and crack or out astone, the swinging or :1

free end of the lever 5| is lifted. This causes the lever 48 to swingabout its pivot 49 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2,pressing the stem 46 upwardly. When the valve 4| is thus shiftedupwardly hydraulic pressure is supplied to the top of the cylinder 35forcing the piston 31 and the upper blade downwardly. As soon as theoperator hears the fracture of the stone he releases the lever 5|,allowing the compression spring 4! to become effective to shift thevalve 4| downwardly. The downward displacement of the valve 4| aspreviously explained causes pressure to be supplied to the bottom of thecylinder 35 to cause the upper blade to be lifted. The arm 54 togetherwith the stop 53 has, of course, moved downwardly with the upper bladeand will be returned upwardly with the upper blade. The upper bladeconsequently continues rising until the stop 53 engages the stem 46 andreturns the valve 4| to the neutral position shown in Fig. 5. In thatposition the piston 31 is stopped in its ascent and is, in effect,hydraulically locked in position until the free end of the lever 5| issubsequently lifted in making a subsequent out.

A feature of the invention concerns the receiving table 60 disposed onthe forward side of the machine. This table is designed to have thestone that is to be cut positioned thereon and it assumes a normalposition slightly above the top edge of the lower blade H. The table 60is descendable, however, and to this end. A rocker shaft 6| is rotatablymounted on the frame. This rocker shaft carries a crank 62 which isrigidly secured thereto. It is pivotally connected as at 63 to the lowerends of braces 64 secured to the bottom of the table. The rocker shaftalso carries a second crank indicated at 65 that is pivotally connectedto the lower end of a vertical brace 66 as at 61. The pivots 63 and 6!are approximately equi-distant from the axis of rotation of the rockershaft 6| so that both ends of the table will rise and fall evenly. Onthe crank 62 a counterweight 68 is adjustably mounted. Thiscounterweight may be adjusted toward and away from the axis of rotationof the rocker shaft 6| and also different weights may be hung thereon.The counterweight is so adjusted that when the slab of stone to be cutis positioned on the table 60 the table will remain in its uppermostposition as limited by a stop 69 on one of the guides 25. In other wordsthe weight of the slab of stone to be cut is not ordinarily sufficientto depress the table 60 below its uppermost position which is above thelower blade |4. Consequently the slab may be shifted on the table 60 toany desired position and in so doing the protruding or overhangingportion of the slab that overhangs the blade l4 will not engage theblade. When the upper blade 3| is caused to descend it,

of course, engages the overhanging portion of the stone and forces itdownwardly. This causes the table 60 to descend and lowers the stoneinto engagement with the lower blade I4.

To the rear of the machine there is adjustably mounted a second table10, this table being equipped with studs and nuts that are adjustable inslots in brackets The table 1'0 is usually adjusted to a positionslightly below the top edge of the lower blade M. It is designed toreceive that portion of the stone that is cut off from the slab that hasbeen positioned on the table 60.

In the preferred arrangement the top edges of the angle irons 2| and 22are so arranged as to be engaged by the upper blade-holder 28 andfunction as stops limiting downward movement of the upper blade 3|before it comes in contact with the lower blade l4.

As shown in Fig. 6, the blades 4 and 3| preferably present serratededges as indicated at 12 and 13. This form of construction is highlypreferred in many instances but is not essential. When the edges of theblades are toothed or serrated the ends of the teeth engage the stone tobe cut and tend to penetrate the stone so that the stone will fracturealong a line following the points of penetration. Such a construction isparticularly advantageous when the top and bottom surfaces of the stoneto be out are not perfectly smooth. It is possible under certaincircumstances to use smooth blades, that is, blades presenting smoothand continuous cutting edges.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that theimproved stone-cutting machine is highly advantageous in a number ofrespects. At the conclusion of each stone-cutting operation or the upperor movable blade 3| automatically returns to its uppermost position andis hydraulically locked in that position. In-

asmuch as the upper blade returns the full stroke no adjustment of themachine is required in cutting stone of varying thicknesses. The stoneto be cut is positioned on the receiving table 89 which is normally heldabove the lower or stationary blade id enabling the stone to be shiftedon the table without any interference by the stationary blade. When thestone has been properly positioned the upper blade 3| is hydraulicallyforced downward and on engaging the stone the table 59 is caused to bedepressed therewith until such time as downward movement of the stone isarrested by the lower blade i i. The continued application of pressureto the top of piston 3? causes the upper blade 3! to cooperate with thelower blade iii in effecting a cut of the stone along the lengths of theblades. As soon as the fracture takes place the lever 5| is releasedwhich causes the upper blade to automatically return to its uppermostposition and allows the counterweight 63 to be effective to lift thetable 60 and the stone thereon clear of the stationary blade l4.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a fixed lowerblade, an upper blade, means for movably mounting the upper blade abovethe lower blade including a piston connected to the upper blade and acylinder for the piston, means for supplying each end of the cylinderwith fluid pressure, means controlling the flow of fluid pressure to thecylinder including a valve having a movable valve member, the movablevalve member having an upper position in which fluid may be supplied tothe upper side of the piston to urge the upper blade downwardly, a lowerposition in which fluid is supplied to the lower side of the piston tourge the upper blade upwardly and a neutral position in which fluid toand from the cylinder is stopped, a stop carried by the upper bladeengageable with the movable valve member to shift the movable valvemember to a neutral position when the upper blade is in its upperposition, means for urging the valve member downwardly, and means formanually shifting the valve member into its upper position to cause thepiston to move the upper blade downwardly and to carry the stoptherewith.

2. An apparatus for cutting stone and the like comprising a fixed lowerblade, a movable upper blade, means for moving the upper blade towardand away from the lower blade to cut stone placed between the blades,guides at the end of the lower blade, a blade actuated table adjacentthe lower blade movable parallel to the plane of the movable upper bladeand between the guides, a rocker shaft beneath the table and extendingat right angles to the length of the lower blade, cranks on the rockershaft, means pivotally supporting the table on the cranks for parallelmovement relative to said upper blade and between the guides, an arm onthe rocker shaft extending perpendicular thereto and underlying the edgeof the table next adjacent to said lower blade, a counterweight on thearm for urging the table upwardly, and a stop on one of the guideslimiting upward movement of the counterweight influenced table to aposition above the top of the lower blade.

3. An apparatus for cutting stone and the like comprising a fixed lowerblade, at hydraulically actuated upper blade movable toward and awayfrom the lower blade to cut stone placed between the blades, a bladeactuated table adjacent the lower blade, spaced guides for and common tothe blades and the table, respectively, for limiting the upper blade andtable to movement parallel relative to each other, a rocker shaftbeneath the table intermediate the sides thereof and extending at rightangles to the length of the lower blade, cranks on the rocker shaft,spaced braces pivotally supporting the table on the cranks, an arm onthe rocker shaft extending perpendicular thereto and underlying the edgeof the table next adjacent to said lower blade, a counterweight on thearm for urging the table upwardly, and a stop on one of the guideslimiting upward movement of the counterweight influenced table to aposition above the top of the lower blade.

4. In an apparatus for cutting stone and the like, a frame, a fixedlower blade on the frame, a movable upper blade, spaced guidesrestricting the upper blade to vertical movement, a blade actuated tabledisposed between said guides and limited thereby to movement parallel tosaid upper blade, a rocker shaft for the table underlying the samemounted on the frame, said shaft extending perpendicular to the blades,cranks on the rocker shaft pivotally connected to the table, and acounterweight on the rocker shaft for urging the table upwardly.

5. In an apparatus for cutting stone and the like, a frame, a fixedlower blade on the frame, a movable upper blade, spaced guidesrestricting the upper blade to vertical movement, a blade actuated.table disposed between said guides and limited thereby to movementparallel to said upper blade, a rocker shaft for the table underlyingthe same mounted on the frame, said shaft extending perpendicular to theblades, cranks on the rocker shaft pivotally connected to the table, acounterweight on the rocker shaft for urging the table upwardly, andstop means on the guides for limiting upward movement of the table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 600,856 Brinkman Mar. 22, 1898 1,919,801 Newsom July 25, 19332,053,043 Patterson Sept. 1, 1936 2,368,138 Hayden Jan. 30, 19452,452,706 White Nov. 2, 1948 2,482,379 Soderman Sept. 20, 1949 2,514,352Solomito July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 844,997 FranceMay 1, 1939

